Richmond Journal Longstreet Leads Charge
July 3, 1863
the plan is to march out of the woods and trough a field to attack the Union. To take the position and win the battle of Gettysburg. The confederacy's General Robert E. Lee and General James Longstreet started the day by explaining their plan of attack. Longstreet said to Lee, “I believe this attack will fail. No 15,000 men ever made can take that ridge."
In response Lee said," We can and we will"
Later today General Longstreet talk to Major Alexander about the artillery Alexander was ordered to aim the cannons at the Unions rock wall and group of trees in the middle of the line. Lee and Longstreet planned to hit this area because they thought it would be easy to get through. Major Alexander was told to fire, but save some to give the men cover fire. Longstreet told General George Pickett to march through a mile long field to attack the Union line. Pickett’s men had to meet General Trimble’s just before the line. General Longstreet told the men, “Gentlemen I believe this attack will decide the fate of our country."
The men went to the edge of the woods to get ready for the march. Major Alexander started shooting the artillery at the Union line of cannons. After about two minutes of the fire the Union Army started to fire their artillery back. They started to hit the men lined up at the wood's edge. You could smell and taste gunpowder. There was just a big cloud of smoke across the field. Many men were killed by artillery fire while they were in the woods. The smell of burnt flesh was everywhere. The North Virginia Army’s canon fire started to slow. General Longstreet went to Major Alexander wondering why the cannons have slowed. Major Alexander told him that the ammunition was low. Alexander told him, “If you going to charge do it now.” Longstreet asked the major about supplies somewhere else. Alexander told him that it would take hours to get then here. General Armistead rallied the men by telling them they are fighting for Virginia. With a mile to march under Union fire they needed something to believe in. Longstreet was informed that the Union artillery couldn’t be taken out. The Confederate Army started to march, it was slow but they went. If you listened close you could hear the footsteps of the men marching. The men weren’t getting hit at all. The artillery stopped for a few minutes. They came to a fence and it started up again after they were climbing over the fence. They smell of gunpowder and the noise of bombshells was coming back. The cries of men that were wounded where all around. Many men were hit by canon fire while climbing over. When the fire hit a fence it would throw wood on the men. Many died by canons and then the Union men started firing their rifles. The men stopped because they were a little scared. Once again Armistead told the men they are fighting for Virginia. Then he took off his hat and put it on his sword and gave the order to charge. They got to the ridge, but the Union Army wouldn’t retreat and we didn’t get the ridge. We have lost the Battle of Gettysburg. The Confederate Army has lost seven generals and six are wounded. We have lost, but the men have fought bravely and have fought for our country.
Longstreet Leads Charge
July 3, 1863
the plan is to march out of the woods and trough a field to attack the Union. To take the position and win the battle of Gettysburg. The confederacy's General Robert E. Lee and General James Longstreet started the day by explaining their plan of attack. Longstreet said to Lee, “I believe this attack will fail. No 15,000 men ever made can take that ridge."
In response Lee said," We can and we will"
Later today General Longstreet talk to Major Alexander about the artillery Alexander was ordered to aim the cannons at the Unions rock wall and group of trees in the middle of the line. Lee and Longstreet planned to hit this area because they thought it would be easy to get through. Major Alexander was told to fire, but save some to give the men cover fire. Longstreet told General George Pickett to march through a mile long field to attack the Union line. Pickett’s men had to meet General Trimble’s just before the line. General Longstreet told the men, “Gentlemen I believe this attack will decide the fate of our country."
The men went to the edge of the woods to get ready for the march. Major Alexander started shooting the artillery at the Union line of cannons. After about two minutes of the fire the Union Army started to fire their artillery back. They started to hit the men lined up at the wood's edge. You could smell and taste gunpowder. There was just a big cloud of smoke across the field. Many men were killed by artillery fire while they were in the woods. The smell of burnt flesh was everywhere. The North Virginia Army’s canon fire started to slow. General Longstreet went to Major Alexander wondering why the cannons have slowed. Major Alexander told him that the ammunition was low. Alexander told him, “If you going to charge do it now.”
Longstreet asked the major about supplies somewhere else. Alexander told him that it would take hours to get then here. General Armistead rallied the men by telling them they are fighting for Virginia. With a mile to march under Union fire they needed something to believe in. Longstreet was informed that the Union artillery couldn’t be taken out. The Confederate Army started to march, it was slow but they went. If you listened close you could hear the footsteps of the men marching. The men weren’t getting hit at all. The artillery stopped for a few minutes. They came to a fence and it started up again after they were climbing over the fence. They smell of gunpowder and the noise of bombshells was coming back. The cries of men that were wounded where all around. Many men were hit by canon fire while climbing over. When the fire hit a fence it would throw wood on the men. Many died by canons and then the Union men started firing their rifles. The men stopped because they were a little scared. Once again Armistead told the men they are fighting for Virginia. Then he took off his hat and put it on his sword and gave the order to charge. They got to the ridge, but the Union Army wouldn’t retreat and we didn’t get the ridge. We have lost the Battle of Gettysburg. The Confederate Army has lost seven generals and six are wounded. We have lost, but the men have fought bravely and have fought for our country.